Distressed Denim Done My Way

I am obsessed with jackets at the moment, especially denim ones as well as sparkles, sequins and lots of glitter and shimmer!! What a perfect combo for the summer, festivals and even nights out. I wore this out at my last festival last week and I am taking it to Creamfields this weekend and oh boy I feel damn special since I customised it myself (!!)

I mean, who doesn't love getting creative and want to brighten up their wardrobe with a little bit of sparkle! It’s SO much fun, means you have something that no-one else ever will, and it feels uber personal owning something that you’ve added an extra touch too!

Why spend a fortune on a pre-made denim jacket which you kinda like but won't in a few weeks, when you can hit up Primark, pick up a cheap jacket and go wild at home with distressing it and adding whatever the hell you want to make it feel like your own.

This jacket was only £12 so it is a bargain when you think about it! And as for the sequins, this was just an iron on transfer from eBay for £2.99!! I just took my scissors and tweezers to it and began to fray the edges, collar and create patches that look worn and distressed.

I LOVE the outcome, I chose a particular, simple sequin transfer but you can literally go crazy and bold and do whatever ya like. I now have a load of bizarre ideas, so keep your eyes peeled as I may end up customising more that I own with initials, badges and more...

Moving Away From Home

THE UNIVERSITY SERIES || Part 1

So last week some of you will have got your results back and found if you'd be heading off to uni next month. It is exciting and a whole new adventure ahead of you at first but as the weeks creep closer to moving away from home to your new place, the nerves will be kicking in and you will be asking yourself a million questions (I know I was) .... 

There are so many positives to moving away from the city you grew up in. As firstly it means your new place is for you. It's somewhere you can explore and when family and friends visit you can show them all your favourite spots for shopping, coffee and cocktails. You learn more about yourself than you ever have before,  it forces you into a new world that’s outside of your comfort zone and you will come more open-minded. It will bring you to face new people, new sights and new opinions, some you may not agree with but you learn to listen to others views and beliefs whilst holding your own opinions without shutting other people down.

With moving into shared accommodation or halls of residence, you are bound to face some difficulties and come across people you do not necessarily get along with. So being put into a flat with totally new people you will have never met before, it can be scary and daunting at first. However, the best thing to do is to make compromises and be respectful to your flat mates by working alongside them and putting differences and dislikes aside even if you don't exactly see eye to eye all the time.

Trust me when you go back home for the holidays or to spontaneously visit family as a surprise you become to miss the things you once hated. For myself, my sister and I get along so much better now that we aren't there to pester and annoy each other every day and it is the little jobs I don't mind doing to help my mum out around the house. And you feel like you grow closer to your hometown as anyone at uni who offends your hometown you will be there to back it up that it ain't all that bad.

Finally, there is the obvious mahoosive question of "WHAT IF I GET HOMESICK? WHAT DO I DO? WHAT IF I HATE IT?"

Take a moment, try breathe, and just look around at how far you've come! But there is obviously going to be nights when you get fed up of being on your own or just need a hug from your mum to make it all better. I'd suggest before your family leaves you make sure you make your room is as homely as it can be, filled with photos, cards, fairy lights and homely touches that make you smile :) And when it comes to it, facetime, skype and social media is a massive help to speak to family and reassure your nerves that you're doing just fine!!

Boardmasters 2017

A perfect week of sunshine, music, surfing and friends in Cornwall! Last week a bunch of us went on a road trip down to Newquay for Boardmasters Festival and it has to have been one of the best weeks by far. I just want to share a few memories and snaps from the week away and to tell you about a few artists and bands I got the chance to see and that I'm in lurrrve with too!

All will be linked to their Spotify so you can check them out and have a listen too.

Wednesday we explored around the arena and looked around the stalls, checked out the different food we wanted to try out and pitched our tents which weren't so successful when it is gale force winds snapping the tent poles (but that's another story). Thursday we headed to Fistral beach to check out what was going on down there! The surfing had been cancelled that day due to the weather conditions but we sat, ate food, watched the BMX trials and soaked up the atmosphere. One thing I loved about this festival it was so chill yet filled with so much to do and see.

Friday came and the festival had properly started. After seeing Tom Zanetti live in Sailors at the Afterparties we were pretty tired but we didn't let that put a damper on the rest of our weekend. Of course, we saw the main headline for the Friday, Two Door Cinema Club, who were a-m-azing!! 

During the day we explored the stages, found our feet and I discovered a few artists I have come to love! It was the same on Saturday, we knew the headliners we wanted to see but it was nice to be able to listen to new music from existing artists and new upcoming bands too. A few of these were Newton Faulkner, Frances, The Vaccines, Laura Mvula, Kate Nash and Get Inuit. 

This festival was perfect for me as I loved the mix of sitting in a field chilling and listening to music whilst taking it all in, however, I do love a good dance around and being right in the middle of the crowd dancing away. On Saturday it had to be my favourite day as on the night I got to see Jax Jones (again) and I was blessed to hear Pete Tong and Solardo bash out a few tunes as well as Gorgon City live which was incredible!!

The final day came and we tried to make the most of it by seeing as much as we possibly could so we ended up seeing Stormzy, Ziggy Marley, The Amazons, smaller artists such as Daisy Clark and the big headliner Alt-J. I have to say each and everyone we saw blew me away and left me gobsmacked. 

Sadly, everything has to come to an end which we were all gutted about as I don't know about you, but there is something about 50,000 people stood in fields, singing their hearts out and dancing that makes me very happy! There are many more artists and things I want to talk about with you guys but I won't bore you. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a vlog from that week!

My Festival Essentials

I know a lot of festivals have been and gone but there is still a few left in the pipeline including Creamfields, Leeds Fest and more!! There’s just something about being in a field watching your favourite band or DJ perform. And while planning which stages to fight your way to the front too. It’s also important to know what essentials you’ll need to survive the weekend.

This week I have been gathering all my bits and pieces that I need for my next festival which is Boardmasters next week down in Newquay. Considering we are camping Wednesday to Monday I really had new clue on how much I needed to take. Which is why I thought I’d share my list of festival essentials that you need in your backpack this summer!

I will be taking my phone purely to allow me to meet up with friends, occasionally update social media and let my mum know that I’m ok! So for me, portable phone chargers and cables are a MAHOOSIVE must have! Even if you don’t take your phone or on the off chance you do run out of battery, it’s probably best to also have something with you that allows you to tell the time. Pretty much all festivals run to strict timings so you don't want to be missing out on your favourite acts and bands that you're really excited to see!

Now is it even a festival if you don’t cover your face in glitter or gems? I think not! Which is why I have loads of pots of glitter from Afflecks (in Manchester) and they are are the perfect festival essential. When applied with facial glue it is super easy for that festival glam, without looking like a unicorn just threw up on you. Other makeup products I am taking are my basic daily essentials, so concealer, pressed powder, brow kit and mascara. Since you can't take glass I've transferred my foundation into plastic bottles which can be bought in stores like Boots or Superdrug.

Thinking more practical, I have decided to get little miniature bottles of the daily essentials such as shampoo, deodorant, shower gel, shaving foam, razor, body spray, dry shampoo, body/face wipes... the list is endless! I literally hit up Primark and Superdrug looking for the best deals as there was no point spending a fortune for it to be used maybe twice. And not forgetting sun cream and aftersun as its mad how just standing in a field can leave you burnt and in pain for the rest of the weekend.

And finally, there are the obvious festival outfits! As everyone always seems to dress to impress. I'm gonna risk it and be a mom her but it is important to remember that no matter how cool you look in photos it's always best to be prepared for the dreaded rain us Brits are used to. I haven't packed too much that is hoping for rain apart from my wellies, a waterproof jacket and cheap ponchos. Here is to hoping it is dry, it can get cooler on an evening so I have my denim jacket and hoodie for those nights!

Are you going to any festivals this year? If so, what are your festival essentials?